Contents

Appearance and Character

Shiera was renowned as a beauty and seductress, with long Targaryen silver-gold hair, and a heart-shaped face. Although she had two mismatched eyes—one blue, the other green—it was said that the "defect" only enhanced her beauty. She was fond of ivory and lace and cloth-of-silver, but not gold, which she considered too vulgar.

She was a great reader, even at an early age, spoke many languages, and maintained a large and arcane library. She also was reputed to share her mother Serenei's skill in the dark arts.[2] She was known to possess a famous heavy silver necklace, alternating star sapphires and emeralds to compliment her unusual eyes.

History

Aegon IV sired Shiera upon the ninth and last of his mistresses, Lady Serenei of Lys, the last daughter of an ancient but impoverished line of Valyrian nobility. Shiera's mother was disliked by Aegon's courtiers and considered cold and haughty; it was rumored that she was much older than the king, practicing dark arts to retain her youth and beauty. Serenei was nevertheless considered by many the most lovely of Aegon's mistresses. She died in childbed bringing forth Shiera, the child's name meaning "Star of the Sea."[2]

Shiera never married, but took many lovers, and numerous duels were fought for her favor. Her half-brother Brynden Rivers, known as Bloodraven, was her most ardent suitor, and repeatedly proposed marriage to her. Although she refused to marry him, she did share her bed with him.[2] Her other half-brother Aegor Rivers, known as Bittersteel, was said to have also desired her, which only served to increase the hatred between Bloodraven and Bittersteel.

Her relationship with Bloodraven was widely known, and there were rumors that she bathed in the blood of maidens to retain her beauty.[3]

Quotes

Dunk: You've known queens and princesses. Did they dance with demons and practice the black arts?Egg: Lady Shiera does. Lord Bloodraven's paramour. She bathes in blood to keep her beauty.[3]

Though she never wed, she had many offers, and several lovers through the years. Duels were fought over the right to sit beside her, men killed themselves after falling from her favor, poets outdid each other writing songs about her beauty. Her most ardent admirer was her half-brother, Bloodraven, who proposed marriage to her half a hundred times. Shiera gave him her bed, but never her hand. It amused her more to make him jealous.